Published: Friday, 3rd September, 2010 12:00pm

Birr Castle showcased in new exhibition

A rare insight into life in the big houses of pre-independence Ireland, including Birr Castle, is on view in Dublin.

The exhibition of photographs of life in Ireland's 'Big Houses' during the mid 1800s and early 1900s was opened last week.

The exhibition 'Power and Privilege: photographs of the Big House in Ireland 1858-1922' is open at the National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar, Dublin. It features a selection of photographs taken between 1858 and 1922.

These are divided into six main themes: gardens and landscape; employees; transport; entertainment and recreation; the arts and sciences; and family life.

They are drawn from the National Photographic Archive's collection of 630,000 images, the world's largest collection of Irish photographs dating from 1840s to the present. Many of these photographs have never previously been on view to the public.

The image above of the famous Birr Castle telescope is among the exhibition, as are shots from Athlone's Moydrum Castle and Daramona House in Streete in North Westmeath.

It continues at the National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar, Dublin until Spring 2011.

Admission is free.